ITunes 9 has corrupted my iPod Classic

Question

So here is my sorry story - please let me know if you have had similar symptoms and if you have found a solution.
I have a MacBook Pro, running Snow Leopard. I recently upgraded iTunes to iTunes version 9.0.2 and attempted to synchronise my iPod Classic (not sure which version I have - it's about 2 years old if that) whereby I was sent down all sorts of nonsense alleyways by Apple as iTunes told me that my iPod was corrupt and needed to be restored etc.
I have uninstalled every aspect of iTunes 9 from my mac and have installed iTunes 8 instead, as I didn't seem to have any problems with that before (lucky me? or better software?). I have verified and erased my iPod then restored it in iTunes.
I then thought perhaps I ought to manually manage my music as the auto-sync was what seemed to start this whole nightmare in the first place. This all goes well until I reach around 12GB when the iPod starts crunching and iTunes freezes to transfer. I am then unable to stop the transfer and unable to eject the iPod from Finder.
All that I can assume from this and from reading these discussion boards is that my iPod has been irreparably damaged by iTunes 9.
There are theories being expounded on these boards that this is all an elaborate ploy by Apple in order to capture the Christmas market - what more incentive do you need for a new shiny iPod than the fact your perfectly good one is not defunct? I'm not sure I buy into that as the negative publicity is surely more damaging than a few iPod sales. However this is massively negligent on Apple's part if iTunes is in fact the cause of all of this destruction.
Whilst the software licence agreement purports to exclude all liability for any damage caused by such software, in the UK this is overridden by the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 and the Sale of Goods Act 1979 which restrict the degree to which a company can exclude liability for loss caused and which imply a term into the contract which states that the goods must be of satisfactory quality. Whilst Apple could potentially have limited itself by clearly pointing out that the software is not suitable for iPod Classic owners they have not done this therefore to my mind there is a clear case for asking Apple to provide its now disillusioned and iPod-less customers with adequate compensation for their loss.
I am going to progress this with Apple and will post back here as to how I get on. Meanwhile, if any other UK customers would like to add anything please do as it seems that the voice of millions may be what Apple needs to do something about this.

Answer 1

My Ipod Classic wouldn't connect with my iMac after I updated to iTunes 9. Long story short, I discovered it was a problem with the software version on the iPod; not so much iTunes 9. I think this is why only some of us are suffering this problem. The catch is, you need a successful sync to update the iPod software.
As others have tried, resetting the iPod numerous times and trying it on other computers with iTunes 9 didn't work.
If you happen to have a second computer with iTunes 8.2 or earlier, you can use that, but if you are like 99% of people with the same version of iTunes on all computers, you need to:
1. Uninstall iTunes 9
2. Install iTunes 8.2
3. Update your iPod software version
4. Reinstall iTunes 9
In detail for Mac (Windows will have it's own similar steps):
1. Uninstall the iTunes 9 application as far as step 13 on this help file http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1224
(this will remove the application, but leave the music and your libraries intact)
2. Download and install iTunes 8.2. I found a site with an old version using a google search http://en.kioskea.net/telecharger/telecharger-241-itunes-for-mac
3. After version 8.2 is installed, start iTunes by holding down the OPTIONS key on your keyboard and use one click (don't double-click) on your iTunes icon (if it doesn't work, just quit iTunes, and try again...you will get it eventually). A window will pop-up enabling you to create a new library. Do that, and give it a random name (you won't use this library again).
4. iTunes will start (without any of your original library showing, but don't panic; it's still there), and your iPod should now connect. Choose not to transfer any files, or authorisation, however, take the option to update the iPod software.
5. Once the software is updated and has restarted, eject the iPod (no need to complete the sync)
6. Perform a normal mac software update to reinstall iTunes 9.
7. When starting iTunes 9 for the first time after reinstalling, hold down the OPTION key on your keyboard and use one click on the iTunes icon; pick the CHOOSE LIBRARY option. Open your original library that has all your music, and you should be back to where you want to be; your iPod syncing as normal. Next time you open iTunes, it will open to the correct library. The use of the OPTION key is only needed the first time.
8. Hopefully, stop banging your head against your desk.